Method of conveying material and generating power



ROCK

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F. G. SHREVES.

METHOD 0F CONVEYING MATERIAL AND GENEHATING POWER. APPLICATION FILEDJAN. Il. IQIB.

Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

2 fw@ MM2' UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.

FREDERICK G. SHREVES, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

METHOD CONVEYING MATERIAL AND GENERATING POWER.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FEEDERICK G. SHREVES, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State ofColorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in h/Iethodsof Conveying Material and Generating Power, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates vto a method of conveying material by gravityfrom an upper to a lower level, whereby the head pressure produc-ed bysaid material is utilized as a inedinm for generating power for drivingcertain mechanismv employed. Y

rIhere are vast natural deposits of material of commercial value inout-of-the-way places or inconvenient locations, particularly ,in themountains atl high altitudes, distant from power sources and fromrailroads'or other transportation facilities.

Heretofore the expense of mining and conveying such material has been abarrier to its profitable marketing. rlherefore the primary object ofthe present invention is to provide a method for economically mining,preparing or crushing, and conveying mate rial of commercial value, thathas been deposited by nature or other agencies, more or less distantabove a convenient distributing depot. Y

A further object of the invention is to pro- `vide for utilizing thehead pressure for generating power for any purpose desir d.

I have conceived the improved method from my connection with actualexisting conditions, or from my desire to profitably i market largequantities of calcareous material, or lime shale that is deposited incertain mountainous section of the United States. As similar conditionsprevail in many localities, with like natural deposits or with depositsof valuable material of different types, and as it is obvious that theVmethod is universally adaptable foi` the purposes set forth, undersimilar conditions, I will take as a foundation for the explanation ofmy method the said existing` circumstances that prompted my invention.

To facilitate the explanation, the accompanying drawing is made a partof the speciyfication, similar reference characters being f employed todesignate corresponding parts.

As the invention has reference to the method and only broadly to themeans for carrying out said method, the said drawing is merelydiagrammatic.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 9, .1919.

Application filed January 11, 1918. Serial No. 211,330.

Referring now to said diagrammatic drawing, l represents a bed ornatural deposit of lime rock or shale located high up in a precipitcusmountain. 'assume that it is desired to mine the said shale and conveyit to a convenient storage location er distributing point 2 at the baseof the mountain. Assume further that the mass of the mountain under theshale bed is of solid hard rock. I lirst clear away a pertion of theshale bed, or tunnel into it to ferm a shelf 3 on the rock ioundation.Next I sink a vertical shaft l lof predetermined, suitable, lateraldimension. The shaft a communicates with a chamber 5 formed in the rock200 feet, more or less, below the shale bed. A motor 6, preferably ofturbine type designed to perform the required functions in combinationwith the other e ements, is located within the chamber 5.' The'inlet ofthe motor (i is connected with the shaft il, and a shaft 7 provides adischarge from said motor 6, said shaft 7 connecting the chamber with achamber S located at a lowerlevel. In the diagram the chamber 8 is insubstantially the same level as the storage bin 2, however it will beunderstood that the chamber 8 may be located a considerable distanceabove the bin 2v and equipped the same as chamber 5, a shaft similar toshaft 7 connecting- The material is crushed o-r otherwise reduced to agranulated or powdered state and loaded into the shaft 4, the force ofgravity carrying said material through the shaft and motor 6. The saidmotor is located a predetermined distance below the inlet to shaft 4,sufficient for the head pressure of granulated or powdered mass ofmaterial in shaft 4, to drive the motor G. lllith a motor especiallydesigned for the purpose, suiiicient power will be generated to drive adynamo 9 operatively connected with Said motor 6. I will here state thatit has been demonstrated that powdered lime shale weighing about 98 lbs.to the cubic foot, with a 200 foct head, carried through a suitablydesigned turbine motor, will generate about 300 I-I. I).

Power is transmitted from the dynamo 9 through suitable transmissionconnections 10 to an auxiliary motor 11 that is connected with a erusher12 located at the upper level in proximity to the shale bed 1. The motor11 may also be used for operating other mechanism employed in mining thematerial.

A primary motor 13, preferably an internal combustion engine usinggasolene as a fuel medium, is connected with the crusher 12, andsuitable valves are provided for governing the flow of material throughthe shafts.

It will readily be seen that the improved method provides for theconveyance of granulated or powdered material by gravity from upper toower-levels, and the installation of co-acting mechanical means, wherebythe head pressure roduced by said material generates power or drivingthe operating mechanism.

By utilizing the head pressure as a power medium, light machinery, whichis easily handled, can be employed at the shale bed. There is a vastsaving in fuel and in the transportation of same, as the primary motorfor initially operating the crusher, which is the only member requiringfuel, is not in constant use. While the primary motor is a necessaryelement of the method when the material has first to be reduced to apowdered state, it is not the master power source.

While I have described my improved method as embodying vertical conveyershafts drilled through solid rock, the rock formation making the wallsof the shafts, it is obvious that the same general principles willprevail if tubes or suitable concrete eonduits are employed, said tubesor conduits being firmly anchored and depending from an upper to a lowerlevel and co-acting with suitable motor mechanism as above described. Itis also obvious that the power generated can be transmitted and utilizedfor operating other mechanism, such as for example, conveyers fortransporting the material from the storage bin 2 to points remotetherefrom.

eration in connection with the conveyance 0fany material of a granularor powdered character, from a higher to a lower level.

rlhe same method can be applied to the economical transportation of sandfrom beds located above a plane where it is desired for use. The sameprinciples may also be applied in handling grain in elevators.

What I claim and desire tosecure by Let- 1. In the transportation to alower level of material located at an altitude, crushing or otherwisereducing the material, while at the higher level, to a conditionsuitable for the operation of a gravity motor, then deliv-.

ering the material to a lower level and through a gravity motor so as toutilize the head pressure of said material for generating power, andutilizing said'power.

2. In the transportation to a lower level of material located at analtitude, crushing or otherwise reducing the material, while at thehigher level, to a condition suitable for the operation of'a gravitymotor, then deliverin the material to a lower level and, throng agravity motor so as to utilize the headpressure of said material forgenerating power, and utilizing said power in part at least in thereduction of more of the material at the higher level to the conditionsuitable for the operation of the gravity motor.

In testimony whereof I aliix m si nature.

FREDERICK G. S RE ES.

